more new refugees in Payaw camp

more new refugees in Payaw camp
Since last month, 9 households from loh Thaing village and 5
households (total about 100 people) from Rah-Pu village, Yebyu township in
Tenassarim Division have fled to Payaw camp on the Thai-Burma border due
to the harassment and threats by the Slorc troops. Many more are on the
way to the refugee camp said San Nhan Si, 52 year old Karen -Christian
refugee who arrived last week to the refugee camp.
The villagers especially from the Loh Thaing Karen village have
been subjected to human rights abuses by the Slorcs IB 104, stationed at
Kyauk Kadin village commanded by Major Htaung Zar Lian. After the
fighting of Slorc troops and KNU troops led by Dah Ley on December 2
between the Loh Thaing and Rah-Phu village, the harassment towards Karen
local villagers has been intensified. On December 18, 1995, about 40-60
soldiers from IB 104 led by Capt Myint kyaw entered Loh Thaing village and
searched for the people in their lists. They all searched one house to
house for the suspects who were accused of having contact with Dah Leys
group from KNU or relatives of Dah Ley. Pe Shwe (male over 50 years old)
Pho Kel (male, 30-year-old), Pho Khe (male 50-year-old), Yea Shu (male,
24-year-old), Pe Yeo (a) Saw htoo Khe (male, 42-year-old), Pha Pe (male,
21-year-old), Paw Lwe (male, 35-year-old) Cha Na (male, 45-year-old) Bli
Na (male, 35), Hel Wah (male, 24), Baw Tho (male, 24-year-old) , Naw Kyel
(female, 39-year-old) with her 8-month-old baby, Naw Aye Lo (female,
42-year-old) Naw Phaw Chel (female, over-30-year-old), Naw Deeje (female,
over-30-year-old), Saw Htoo Tha (male, 67-yar-old) Naw Khlo (female,
29-year-old), Naw Phaw Pla (female, 21-year-old) with her 2-year-old baby,
Naw Daw The (female 30-year-old), Naw Lu Phaw (female, 20 year-old) and
Kyaw Pho Kho (male, over-30-year-old) were arrested in their house. Some
of them were relatives of Dah ley but some were arrested while they were
visiting their friends houses.
Pe Shwe was dragged out of his house and beaten up with the rifle
butt into his head. The soldiers asked him whereabouts of Dah Ley and his
family. At least three time, he was beaten up. All men were tied up with
the rope in their waist and all were taken to Kyauk Ka Din village where
the military stationed.
"They tied up and tortured us. All the men were forced to stand in
the scorching sun for all day long and they were tied both in their hands
and legs. The women were forced to strip off their clothes before
standing in the sun and interrogated for all day long without giving any
food nor water" said Naw Kyel, Karen mother of one child who also fled to
Payaw camp last week while she was breeding her child in the refugee camp.
They were kept in the hut and interrogated for four days. Naw Kyel
told her nightmare of interrogation. "There were about three soldiers and
one captain ( Captain Myint Kyaw) interrogated me. They asked whether my
husband (Pe Yeo who also got arrested with her) had a gun or not. I said
no. The captain pointed out gun into my head and threatened if I did not
say truth, he would have shot right away. I was scare. He slashed into my
face several time."
After four-day-long interrogation and torture one by one, all were
released except Pe Yeo, Pho Khel and Baw Lwe. The release were ordered to
get the information whereabouts of Dah Ley. Pe Yeo managed to escape the
next day at night but he stepped on booby traps planted around the army
camp and seriously wounded. He could manage to returned back to his
village was given a secret treatment at the hut outside his village. He
died three days later, according to his wife, Naw Kyel.
On January 12, 1996, a group of soldiers from IB 401 led by Major
Htaung Zar Lian again came to Loh Thaing village. They ordered the
villagers not to go to the east river side of Ye stream where most of them
had the farm. Anybody would be shot with any questioning if found in that
area. Major Htaung Zar Lian told the villagers that those who failed to
comply with the order of the military in this village would be punished.
we cannot bear any more arrest or torture by the military. Moreover, the
army ordered us to work on the extension of Ye-Tavoy motor road. Our
village was assigned to work between 71 and 74 miles. Villagers are
required to cut and burn the trees and make the ground level of 150 ft for
each side of the motor road. How can we work for our survivals. We cannot
go and work to our farm and furthermore we have to work without any pay
for many forced labor projects. Thats why we fled to the refugee camp.
told Saw Htoo Thar.
The villagers from Rah- Phu village also faced that fate. The
soldiers from 401 also came to the village and threatened to the village
on the same day. They also were not allowed to go and work their farms in
the east side of Ye stream. According to the San Nhan Si from Ra Phu
village, Major Htaung Zar Lian said "You Christian Karen are
trouble-makers. Only you have left to make the destructive things to the
State. All other ethnic have returned to legal-fold even the Buddhist
Karen. You Christian and students are minion of colony. I will kill all
Christians and students for the sake of our state."
Many refugees are on the way to the Payaw camp or in the another
camp right on the border. Payaw camp is under order or relocation deeper
inside Burma by the Thai authorities. The food and medical supplies to
the refugee in the Pa Yaw camp will be cut off in the future and all will
be relocated into Burma. The future of refugees is unknown. But the
increasing number of new arrivals indicates the ongoing human rights
violations inside Burma. There are many human rights violations again the
Mon local people although New Mon State Party has reached cease-fire
agreement with Slorc. Karen villagers are particularly targeted for giving
more pressure towards KNU to sign ceasefire.
ABSDF (DAWN GWIN)